Life Raft Container Security System and Method

ABSTRACT

A method comprises providing a container having a first container portion and a second container portion, placing an inflatable life raft within the container, placing a transmitter mechanism adjacent the container, and automatically detecting whether a tamper condition has occurred. The tamper condition comprises at least one of the following: removal of the life raft from the container; an increase in distance between the first and second container portions; and a change in position of at least a portion of the life raft relative to one of the portions of the container. The transmitter mechanism is adapted and configured to transmit a signal upon the detection of the tamper condition.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.10/449,325 entitled “Life Raft Container Security System and Method”,filed May 30, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional practice of inspecting, packing and delivering maritimelife rafts presents a potential security risk to the ultimate consumerin that raft containers can be easily tampered with in a manner toconceal potentially dangerous materials while the containers are enroute to the consumer. Existing life raft containers are packaged at themanufacturer, opened and inspected annually by maintenance facilitiesand are secured only by external plastic or metal banding straps. It ispossible for a terrorist to intercept a container in transit, remove theexternal banding straps, insert a weapon of mass destruction or highexplosives, re-band the unit and return it to its transit point withoutanyone else ever noticing that the unit has been compromised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of the present invention comprises providing a container havinga first container portion and a second container portion, placing aninflatable life raft within the container, placing a transmittermechanism adjacent the container, and automatically detecting whether atamper condition has occurred. The tamper condition comprises at leastone of the following: removal of the life raft from the container; anincrease in distance between the first and second container portions;and a change in position of at least a portion of the life raft relativeto one of the portions of the container. The transmitter mechanism isadapted and configured to transmit a signal upon the detection of thetamper condition.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method comprising providinga container having a first container portion and a second containerportion, placing an article within the container, placing a transmittermechanism adjacent the container, automatically detecting whether aremoved tamper condition has occurred, automatically detecting whether adistance increase tamper condition has occurred, and automaticallydetecting whether a position change tamper condition has occurred. Theremoved tamper condition comprises a condition in which the article isremoved from the container. The distance increase tamper conditioncomprises an increase in distance between the first and second containerportions. The position change tamper condition comprises a change inposition of at least a portion of the article relative to one of theportions of the container.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method comprising providinga container having a first container portion and a second containerportion, placing an inflatable life raft within the container, andautomatically detecting whether a tamper condition has occurred. Thetamper condition comprises at least one of the following: removal of thelife raft from the container, an increase in distance between the firstand second container portions, and a change in position of at least aportion of the life raft relative to one of the portions of thecontainer. The method further comprises intermittently transmitting astatus signal. The status signal is a tamper signal if after a point intime the tamper condition is detected via the detecting step. The statussignal is a non-tamper signal if after the point in time the tampercondition is not detected via the detecting step. The tamper signal isdifferent than the non-tamper signal.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method comprising providinga container having a first container portion and a second containerportion, placing an article within the container, placing a transmittermechanism within the container, and automatically detecting whether adistance increase tamper condition has occurred. The distance increasetamper condition comprises an increase in distance between the first andsecond container portions. The method further comprises automaticallydetecting whether a position change tamper condition has occurred. Theposition change tamper condition comprises a change in position of atleast a portion of the article relative to one of the portions of thecontainer.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method comprising providinga container, placing an article within the container, and providing anRFID system comprising a mother RFID tag and a daughter RFID tag. TheRFID system is adapted and configured to detect a change in position ofthe daughter tag relative to the mother tag. The method furthercomprises placing one of the mother and daughter RFID tags adjacent thecontainer, placing the other of the mother and daughter RFID tagsadjacent the article, and detecting with the RFID system whether atamper condition has occurred. The tamper condition comprises a changein position of the daughter tag relative to the mother tag. The RFIDsystem is adapted and configured to transmit a tamper signal upondetection of the tamper condition.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method comprising providinga plurality of assemblies. Each assembly comprises a container havingfirst and second container portions, an article within the container,and a detector mechanism adapted and configured to detect the occurrenceof a tamper condition. The tamper condition comprises at least one ofthe following: removal of the article from the container, increasingdistance between the first and second container portions, and a changein position of at least a portion of the article relative to one of theportions of the container. The method further comprises transporting theplurality of assemblies in one shipment from an initial location to aquarantine location, determining for each of the plurality of assemblieswhether the detector mechanism corresponding to said each of theplurality of assemblies has detected the occurrence of the tampercondition, and transporting the plurality of assemblies from thequarantine location to a destination location. The determining stepoccurs with the plurality of assemblies at the quarantine location. Thestep of transporting the plurality of assemblies from the quarantinelocation to the destination location occurs after the determining step.

Another aspect of the present invention is an anti-tamper life raftassembly comprising a container, an inflatable life raft, and atransmitter mechanism. The container has a first container portion and asecond container portion. The inflatable life raft is within thecontainer. The transmitter mechanism is adapted and configured totransmit a signal upon the occurrence of a tamper condition andindicative of the tamper condition. The tamper condition comprises atleast one of the following: removal of the life raft from the container,increasing distance between the first and second container portions, anda change in position of at least a portion of the life raft relative toone of the portions of the container.

Another aspect of the present invention is an anti-tamper assemblycomprising a container, an article, and a detector mechanism. Thecontainer has a first container portion and a second container portion.The article is within the container. The detector mechanism is adaptedand configured to detect whether a removed tamper condition hasoccurred. The removed tamper condition comprises a condition in whichthe article is removed from the container. The detector mechanism isfurther adapted and configured to detect whether a distance increasetamper condition has occurred. The distance increase tamper conditioncomprises an increase in distance between the first and second containerportions.

Another aspect of the present invention is an anti-tamper life raftassembly comprising a container, an inflatable life raft and a detectormechanism. The container has a first container portion and a secondcontainer portion. The life raft is within the container. The detectormechanism is adapted and configured to detect the occurrence of a tampercondition. The tamper condition comprises at least one of the following:removal of the life raft from the container, increasing distance betweenthe first and second container portions, and a change in position of atleast a portion of the life raft relative to one of the portions of thecontainer.

Other features and advantages will be in part apparent and in partpointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an anti-tamper life raft assembly ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a plurality of life raft assembliesadapted and configured to communicate with a field generation apparatus.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, ananti-tamper life raft assembly of the present invention is indicated inits entirety by the reference numeral 20. The anti-tamper life raftassembly 20 comprises a container, generally indicated at 22, aninflatable life raft 24, and a detector mechanism. The container 22comprises first and second container portions 26, 28. The detectormechanism preferably constitutes an aspect of a dedicated short rangecommunication system such as a radio frequency identification (“RFID”)system, generally indicated at 30. Although the embodiment describedherein preferably employs an RFID system, it is to be understood thatother dedicated short range communication systems or even other types ofdetector mechanisms may be employed without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

In the present embodiment, the first container portion 26 comprises acontainer bottom piece and the second container portion 28 comprises acontainer top piece. In other words, the container 22 of the presentinvention comprises a two-piece container. However, it is to beunderstood that the first and second container portions may be integralportions of a single piece without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. The life raft 24 is within the container 22.

Preferably, the RFID system 30 is adapted and configured to detectwhether any one of several tamper conditions have occurred. The tamperconditions correspond to various possible tamper events. Possible tamperevents include: temporarily opening the container 22 to insert anunauthorized object (e.g., a hazardous material) in the container;cutting a hole in the container 22 and inserting an unauthorized objectwithout opening the container (this event may cause the life raft 24 toshift or move relative to the container); replacement of the life raftwith an unauthorized object; etc. The tamper conditions include adistance increase tamper condition, a position change tamper condition,and a removed life raft tamper condition. The distance increase tampercondition comprises an increase in distance between the first and secondcontainer portions 26, 28 (e.g., separation of the container top piecefrom the container bottom piece). The position change tamper conditioncomprises a change in position of at least a portion of the life raft 24relative to one of the first and second container portions 26, 28. Theremoved life raft tamper condition comprises removal of the life raft 24from the container 22. The RFID system 30 preferably comprises a fatherRFID tag 32, a mother RFID tag 34, and a daughter RFID tag 36.Preferably, all three tags are within the container 22. As used herein,a tag within the container means the tag is inside the container or isotherwise associated with the container (e.g., secured to an interior orexterior surface of the container). Preferably, each tag is adapted andconfigured to transmit a signal indicative of at least one of the tamperconditions upon the occurrence of such tamper condition. Alternativelyor additionally, the tags communicate with each other in a manner suchthat at least one of the tags is adapted and configured to transmitdifferent signals indicative of two or more of the tamper conditionsupon the occurrence of the tamper conditions. Thus, the RFID system 30comprises a transmitter mechanism adapted and configured to transmit asignal upon the detection of a tamper condition.

Preferably, the father RFID tag 32 is affixed to an inside panel of thecontainer bottom piece 26 and is associated with an electronic magneticcontact 42 affixed to an inside panel of the container top piece 28. Thefather RFID tag 32 is preferably adapted and configured to detectwhether the distance increase tamper condition has occurred. Inparticular, the father RFID tag 32 is preferably adapted and configuredto detect whether the container top and bottom pieces 26, 28 areseparated by more than ½ centimeter. The father RFID tag 32 is alsopreferably adapted and configured to transmit a distance increase RFsignal upon detection of the distance increase tamper condition.

The mother RFID tag 34 is preferably affixed to an inside panel of thecontainer bottom piece and is associated with an electronic magneticcontact 44 affixed to an inside panel of the container top piece 28.Preferably, the daughter tag 36 is affixed to the life raft 24.Preferably, the mother RFID tag 34 also is adapted and configured todetect whether the distance increase tamper condition has occurred. Inparticular, the mother RFID tag 34 is preferably adapted and configuredto detect whether the container top and bottom pieces 26, 28 areseparated by more than ½ centimeter. It is to be understood thatalthough the life raft 24 is schematically shown in FIG. 1, the liferaft is rolled up and or folded in a manner that it fits snugly in thecontainer 22. As such, with the container top piece 28 properlypositioned on and secured to the container bottom piece 26 and the liferaft 24 inside the container 22, the life raft shifts only minimally (ifat all) relative to the container. Because the life raft 24 at mostshifts only minimally relative to the container 22 during non-tamperconditions, the daughter tag 36 moves only minimally (if at all)relative to the mother tag 34 during non-tamper conditions. The motherand daughter RFID tags 34, 36 are adapted and configured to detect theposition change tamper condition and the removed life raft tampercondition. The mother and daughter RFID tags 34, 36 are symbioticallylinked to one another to detect whether the spacing between the motherand daughter RFID tags is changed from a distance D. During non-tamperconditions, the mother and daughter RFID tags 34, 36 are spaced fromeach other by the distance D (e.g., twelve inches). The mother anddaughter RFID tags 34, 36 are adapted and configured to detect whetherthe spacing between each other is increased or decreased beyond apredetermined amount. The daughter and mother RFID tag relationship isan active, constantly communicating relationship. The daughter tagpreferably communicates on a predetermined schedule ensuring that themother RFID tag is within proximity. Failure to contact the mother RFIDtag during a polling cycle is indicative of the tamper condition.Additionally, the mother RFID tag preferably actively communicates withthe daughter tag on a unique polling sequence and also detects whetherthe proximity has been compromised. The mother RFID tag 34 is preferablyadapted and configured to transmit a distance increase RF signal upondetection of the distance increase tamper condition, to transmit aposition change RF signal upon detection of the position change tampercondition, and a removed life raft RF signal upon detection of theremoved life raft tamper condition. It is to be understood thatdepending upon how the mother and daughter tags are configured, theposition change RF signal may be the same as or different than theremoved life raft tamper condition. The daughter RFID tag 36 ispreferably adapted and configured to transmit a position change RFsignal upon detection of the position change tamper condition, and aremoved life raft RF signal upon detection of the removed life rafttamper condition.

Referring to FIG. 2, the RFID system 30 and a remote field generationapparatus 50 are adapted and configured to communicate with one another.The field generation apparatus 50 is adapted and configured to receivethe various RF signals from the RFID tags 32, 34, 36 of the RFID system30. Preferably, the field generation apparatus 50 and the RFID system 30are adapted and configured to communicate with each other using spreadspectrum communication. The field generation apparatus 50 is alsoadapted and configured to simultaneously communicate with a plurality ofRFID systems (e.g., RFID systems 52, 54, 56 shown in FIG. 2). Asdiscussed below, a plurality of anti-tamper life raft assemblies (e.g.,systems 20, 62, 64, 66 shown in FIG. 2) may be transported in a singleshipment and interrogated by the field generation apparatus 50.Preferably, the field generation apparatus 50 is a portable hand-heldapparatus. Although only the anti-tamper life raft assembly 20 isdescribed in detail herein, it is to be understood that the descriptionthereof is equally applicable to the other anti-tamper life raftassemblies 62, 64, 66. However, each RFID tag of each anti-tamper liferaft assembly preferably transmits a unique identification signalreadable by the field generation apparatus 50 so that an operatoroperating the field generation apparatus can determine which tag ofwhich life raft assembly is communicating with it. Preferably, the fieldgeneration apparatus 50 includes VLSI integrated circuit and computertechnology. This enables the field generation apparatus to be compact.Preferably, each tag sends its data intermittently, and more preferablyperiodically. The field generation apparatus 50 is adapted andconfigured to cross-reference the data received from each RFID tag withdata stored within the apparatus' self-contained database. After thefield generation apparatus 50 receives new data, it preferably sends thedata to a host computer 70. The field generation apparatus 50 and thehost computer 70 preferably communicate through a secure wireless link.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the RFID tags 32, 34, 36 are preferablyactive RFID tags powered by long life lithium ion batteries capable oftwo year sustained transmit duty cycle. Also preferably, each tag has anembedded anti-tamper mechanism which is of an electro-magnetic design.The tags are fully configurable via software by a base station.Configuration commands are sent to the tags via RFID secure transmissionand are accepted only from the originating configuration station.Preferably, all other commands are rejected by the tags and cause atamper event to be raised. Also, erasure of the command control set onany tag is treated as a tamper event.

Preferably, the tags have four modes of operation. The first mode is ano report (disabled) mode. The no report mode is a maintenance mode inwhich the cards are delivered to the originating configuration station.In the no report mode, the tamper controls, batteries and RFID signalingprocess are disabled. The second mode is a real-time mode. The real-timemode is the most active reporting state of the tangs. In the real-timemode, the tags are constantly reporting when in proximity of anauthorized base station. As the tags approach an antenna field (e.g.,within 100 meters) the tags begin actively responding to interrogationsand report their status (i.e., begin transmitting appropriate RFsignals). Two real-time sub modes exist: RT tamper enabled, and RTtamper disabled. In the real-time mode with tamper enabled, the RFIDtags report tamper conditions and then reset if the condition thatcaused the tamper to activate terminates. In the real-time mode withtamper disabled, the RFID tags report status, programmed data andbattery status only. The third mode is a history mode. The history modeis the most secure mode of operation. Once placed in the history modeall symbiotic relationships and perimeter defense functions areactivated. If any perimeter or relationship is compromised, the tagsimmediately report the compromise, wait a predetermined period of timefor a base station to respond and if no response is received enter intoa sleep-transmit-sleep state until being within range of an authorizedbase station. Internal anti-tamper circuitry is locked in the alarmstate and cannot be reset. The fourth mode is an inventory mode. Theinventory mode is an active mode that reports only a uniqueidentification of the tag to an authorized base station. This mode isused for inventory control where anti-tamper requirements do not exist.

Preferably, each of the RFID tags 32, 34, 36 is adapted and configuredto intermittently transmit a status signal. The status signal is one ofthe tamper signals if a corresponding one of the tamper conditions isdetected. The status signal is a non-tamper signal if after the point intime the tamper condition is not detected. Preferably, the tamper signalis different than the non-tamper signal.

Referring again to FIG. 2, in operation the plurality of anti-tamperlife raft assemblies 20, 62, 64, 66 shown in FIG. 2) are assembled andconfigured, preferably at the originating configuration station.Although only four life raft assemblies are shown herein, it is to beunderstood that four are shown for convenience. It is to be understoodthat many more may be employed without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. The configured life raft assemblies 20, 62, 64, 66are then transported from an initial location (e.g., the configurationstation) to a quarantine location. Preferably, the initial location isthe supplier of the life rat assemblies and the quarantine location isin the control of a customer (e.g., an owner of one or more ships). Thequarantine location may be hundreds or thousands of miles from theinitial location. The transportation may be conducted by a third partycarrier. In other words, the transportation of the life raft assembliesfrom the initial location to the quarantine location may be conducted bya party other than the supplier or customer and outside the control ofthe supplier or customer. With the assemblies at the quarantinelocation, the customer or an authorized representative of the supplieroperates the field generation apparatus 50 to interrogate the RFID tagsof each of the life raft assemblies. The RFID tags then transmit theirRF status signals. If any of the RFID tags detect the occurrence of atamper condition, the RFID system associated with the RFID tag willtransmit an appropriate tamper indicating signal. Preferably, the tampersignal indicates the specific tag that detected the tamper condition andindicates the type of tamper condition, the operator can takeappropriate action (e.g., removing the offending life raft assembly fromthe other assemblies). After interrogation, the life raft assemblies maybe transported from the quarantine location to a destination location(e.g., a ship). Preferably, transporting the life raft assemblies fromthe quarantine location to the destination location is performed underthe control of the customer. Preferably, only the life raft assembliesof which it has been determined that no tamper condition has occurredare transported from the quaratine location to the destination location.The ability to detect whether a tamper condition has occurred enablesthe supplier and customer to employ a third party to transport the liferaft assemblies from the supplier to the customer.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in relation to liferaft assemblies, it is to be understood that other types of assembliesmay be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. Inother words, some article other than a life raft may be employed. Forbrevity, an embodiment employing an article other than a life raft isnot described in detail. However, it is to be understood that the abovedescription is equally applicable to other articles.

In view of the above, it will be seen that several advantageous resultsare attained by the present invention.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methodswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. The invention therefore shall be limited solely by thescope of the claims set forth below.

1. A method comprising: providing a container having a first containerportion and a second container portion; placing an inflatable life raftwithin the container; placing a transmitter mechanism adjacent thecontainer; automatically detecting whether a tamper condition hasoccurred, the tamper condition comprising at least one of the following:removal of the life raft from the container; an increase in distancebetween the first and second container portions; and a change inposition of at least a portion of the life raft relative to one of theportions of the container; the transmitter mechanism being adapted andconfigured to transmit a signal upon the detection of the tampercondition.
 2. A method comprising: providing a container having a firstcontainer portion and a second container portion; placing an articlewithin the container; placing a transmitter mechanism adjacent thecontainer; automatically detecting whether a removed tamper conditionhas occurred, the removed tamper condition comprising a condition inwhich the article is removed from the container; automatically detectingwhether a distance increase tamper condition has occurred, the distanceincrease tamper condition comprising an increase in distance between thefirst and second container portions; and automatically detecting whethera position change tamper condition has occurred, the position changetamper condition comprising a change in position of at least a portionof the article relative to one of the portions of the container.
 3. Amethod comprising: providing a container having a first containerportion and a second container portion; placing an inflatable life raftwithin the container; automatically detecting whether a tamper conditionhas occurred, the tamper condition comprising at least one of thefollowing: removal of the life raft from the container, an increase indistance between the first and second container portions, and a changein position of at least a portion of the life raft relative to one ofthe portions of the container; intermittently transmitting a statussignal, the status signal being a tamper signal if after a point in timethe tamper condition is detected via the detecting step, the statussignal being a non-tamper signal if after the point in time the tampercondition is not detected via the detecting step, the tamper signalbeing different than the non-tamper signal.